Throughout history, the gun control debate has been an issue addressed since the age of colonial Americans and is still debated today. The United States currently holds over 200 million firearms and has weaker gun laws than other developed nations, largely because the Supreme Court has upheld the right to gun control. Not much action was taken until numerous shootings and firearms-related incidents occurred. These incidents have sparked calls to pass gun control laws, but the Supreme Court is against passing the laws. Although the Supreme Court deems it unnecessary to have them, recent tragedies and past cases clearly support the implication of gun control laws. The Second Amendment, ratified in 1791, guarantees citizens the right to bear arms and has been in effect as long as the Constitution. Yes. The Supreme Court refuses to have gun control laws and ruled that federal law does not require restrictions on gun ownership under the Second Amendment in District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008. However, the murders of key political figures such as John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy led Congress to pass a series of acts and laws that banned federal assault weapons and restricted the importation and sale of firearms. Gun rights advocates support the use of firearms by stating that in the past, colonial Americans needed firearms to protect their families and communities. However, gun tragedies, such as the shooting in Littleton, Colorado, have left numerous high school students and teachers injured and killed. Perspectives on the issue of gun control vary depending on location, party differences, and even personal thoughts... .middle document...ratified in 1791 and will continue for many more years to come. The question is not one on which a verdict can easily be given. I believe, however, that each year there will be small changes in government gun control policies to make the nation a safer place to live. For example, firearms may be prohibited except for self-defense pistols, and Congress may decide to enforce laws that more strictly regulate the types of weapons that can be legally carried. Nationwide screenings, including identity verification and criminal background checks, could be enforced by law enforcement, considering the fact that more than 20 states have imposed gun control laws in the past three decades. As gun-related incidents occur, hopefully the nation will take greater precautions to ensure the safety and security of the nation and its civilians..